PRODUCTION PERFORMANCE AND IMMUNOCOMPETENCY OF BROILER CHICKENS AND EGG-TYPE CHICKENS FED GAMMA AMINO BUTYRIC ACID
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Date
2022
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Abstract
A study was carried out to find out gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) feeding to broiler chickens and egg-type hens’ performance. GABA is an endogenously derived neurotransmitter and is available in the market for the poultry industry. In the first experiment, a total of 192 day-old straight run chicks were divided into four groups viz., T1, T2, T3 and T4 and were given 0, 25, 50, and 75mg GABA per kg diet, respectively from day one onwards up to 35 days of age. At the end of 35th day, analysis of body weight and FCR of broiler chickens did not reveal any difference among the treatment groups. Analysis of carcass characteristics also revealed no change as dressing percentage was similar among treatment groups. No change in plasma total protein was noted on third- and fifth-week age. The total cholesterol was significantly low in T2 and T3 groups only at third week of age. GABA supplementation has resulted in significant variation among the treatment groups with respect to plasma calcium and phosphorus. At fifth week of age, the calcium level was found to be significantly higher in T3 and T4 than the other groups. GABA increased blood glucose level significantly (P ≤ 0.01) in treatment groups compared to control. Evaluation of corticosterone concentration revealed no change
among the groups. Similarly, GABA did not alter the triiodothyronine and thyroxine levels in broilers during third and fifth weeks of age. The antioxidant enzymes like SOD, GSH-Px and MDA level did not show any variation among groups during the third and fifth weeks of age. Both the H:L ratio and HI titre (against NDV) were not influenced by GABA supplementation in this study. GABA supplementation up regulated IL2 by 4 to 5 folds and IL6 by 5 to 6 folds whereas, the ghrelin and leptin genes were down regulated by 59 and 213 folds, respectively. Dietary GABA did not influence villi height and crypt depth in broilers